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Friday, October 10, 2014

Blog Tour + Giveaway | LEARNING THE ROPES by T.J. Kline

Rule
#1 - Don’t lose focus...

Barrel
racer Alicia Kanani has had a long road to the top - and she’s not
quite there yet. Finances have always been tight, and in the glitz
and glam world of professional rodeo, that means that second best is
probably the best she can hope for. With the National Finals coming
up, she’s certainly not looking for a pair of cowboys to distract
her.

Rule
#2 - Don’t gamble what you can’t live without…

Playboy
Chris Thomas is sure Alicia’s the perfect woman for his
level-headed team roping partner, David Greenly. It seems like a
match, until Chris realizes he wants Alicia for himself. The stakes
have been raised; David and Chris are supposed to be a team, and this
time, they’re on opposite sides.

Can
Alicia rope this playboy’s heart, or will they find themselves too
tangled up to let true love in?

MY THOUGHTSFrom the very beginning I wanted Chris and Ali to end up together. As sweet as Alicia's moments were with David, he was often flaky and dismissive when he was in a mood over the pressures of dealing with his domineering, manipulative father. She put up with more than enough from him in my book and they really were best suited as buddies than lovers. But Chris, ahhhh, he is another story. Though he has always tried to treat Alicia as just a friend, there has been chemistry brewing between these two since high school. Neither one of them could recognize how the other felt, even though everyone else saw it. Chris is Ali's biggest fan, the one who is always there for her, sticking up for her when jealous buckle bunnies start spewing their venom (and he does so hilariously, might I add). But he has spent years burying his desire for Ali under childhood friendship and nameless hook-ups. Whenever his feelings start bubbling to the surface, he frustratingly plays up his lady-killer reputation, steering himself safely back into the friend zone. He knows making a play for Ali would mean playing for keeps and that's not something he realizes he wants until he sees her with David. Having always been the poor kid growing up, Ali has never really felt like she measured up. On the rodeo circuit, she is tired of coming in second place to entitled bimbos who mistreat their animals. Alicia has big plans for herself and her parents, plans that hinge on earning as much prize money as possible. The last thing she needs is two men distracting her. Ali has always had a crush on Chris but his reputation and her self doubts keep her from mentioning the attraction and risking their friendship and her heart.Ali is such a fantastic heroine! She has sass for days, some killer comebacks, and she really knows how to put an uppity cowgirl in her place. And Chris is such a charming and supportive hero. To him, Ali isn't just a toy he wants when he sees someone else playing with her. She is the embodiment of everything he has always wanted. A spit-fire who can out-ride and out-rope him any day of the week and the companion who understands and complements him. No one makes him smile or yearn the way she does. And as hard as Ali tries, David just doesn't make her feel the same belly-searing heat that Chris does. Boy, when these two find themselves together in a barn, things sure heat up!T.J. Kline took one of my very favorite romance tropes, Friends to Lovers, and created a funny, sexy, irresistible read. LEARNING THE ROPES is definitely my favorite book in the series so far! I've never been a big fan of westerns, but Ms. Kline is single-handedly turning me into a cowboy-loving convert. I can't wait to read David's story and see what other romances this rodeo queen has in store for us.

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.

If you're interesting in checking out my review of the previous book in this series, THE COWBOY AND THE ANGEL, click here.

T.
J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and Rodeo Queen competitions
since the age of 14 and has thorough knowledge of the sport as well
as the culture involved. She has written several articles about rodeo
for small periodicals, as well as a more recent how-to article for
RevWriter, and has published a nonfiction health book and two
inspirational fiction titles under the name Tina Klinesmith. She is
also an avid reader and book reviewer for both Tyndale and Multnomah.
In her spare time, she can be found laughing hysterically with her
husband, children, and their menagerie of pets in Northern
California. Website || Facebook || Twitter || Goodreads

Avon is hosting a TOUR WIDE Rafflecopter Giveaway for a Digital Set of RODEO QUEEN and THE COWBOY AND THE ANGEL, and Print Copy of THE COWBOY AND THE ANGEL! Enter below.